As special counsel Robert Mueller builds his case, relatives of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn are among those pressing the president to use his unique legal power and ‘put these defendants out of their misery.’

Poles abroad told to flag anti-Polish comments: report

Poles living abroad have been instructed to report comments made by compatriots that could be “harmful” to Poland’s reputation, according to a report by German public broadcaster NDR.

The report, released Wednesday night, cites a letter by Polish Senate Speaker Stanisław Karczewski, asking Poles to “document all anti-Polish comments, representations and opinions that could hurt [the country]” and report “any defamation” that could harm Poland’s reputation to embassies or consulates.

NDR reported that the three-page letter was sent to Poles living in southern Germany by the Polish Consulate General in Munich, and that the consulate in Hamburg would follow suit.

The letter comes two weeks after the Polish legislature passed a controversial law making it illegal to ascribe responsibility to Poles for Nazi war crimes carried out during the Holocaust. It was approved by Poland’s senate with 57 in favor, 23 against and two abstentions.

The Holocaust legislation is the latest in an ongoing battle by the Polish government to keep the media and others from referring to Nazi-operated concentration camps located within its borders, like Auschwitz, as “Polish death camps.”

The law resulted in immediate criticism from the U.S. and Israel, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu comparing the legislation to an attempt to change history.

BinPL

bolek

Alex T

Why do you think that no one cares? The mere fact that a -albeit very small – group of people talking about surely shows that some do care? N’est-ce pas?

Posted on 2/15/18 | 6:31 PM CET

yospit64

I would tell every Pole living abroad that their fascist, antisemitic, nationalistic Polish government should go to Hell together with the Hungarian and American governments! The resurgence of Neo Nazism in those countries will be fought with all might and by any means available!

Posted on 2/15/18 | 6:40 PM CET

XKM

Poor “Alex T” can not process information; Foobar just answered you query about “French death camp” that they do call it so, but they do not care. Maybe your Polish government can pass law to make it illegal to call it a “French death camp” and then you your other minion friends can report on that also!

Posted on 2/15/18 | 7:30 PM CET

PLdB

@foobar That’s because you French bend over for everyone…

Posted on 2/15/18 | 8:12 PM CET

chrish

@yospit64

If you think they are antisemitic you better hope momentum aren’t in charge of the next UK government.

Posted on 2/15/18 | 8:13 PM CET

Anne

The Turkish and Eritrean embassies are doing something similar — recruiting expat Turks/Eritreans to report on fellow expats.

Posted on 2/15/18 | 8:44 PM CET

RasmusDenmark

It is clear for everyone that Poland is ruled by an authoritarian, semi-fascist, anti-democratic government. The nationalists surely has learned something from the communists.

I send my thoughts to all poles, that cherish freedom and democracy – times are hard at the moment – keep up hope.

And to the Polish STASI-like agents and trolls on the internet – please report me – it would be an honor.

Posted on 2/16/18 | 12:30 AM CET

Anthony Chambers

It is a European tradition to try to stamp out certain forms of free speech. Often with good intentions. Nothing new here.

Posted on 2/16/18 | 1:55 AM CET

maciekimaciek

To all critics of “Holocaust speech” law in Poland.
Do you realize, there are similar laws in many other countries, Germany and Israel included?
Why do you compare Polish fighting defamation with Turkish or Eritrean and not German or Israelis in your comment, Anne?

Posted on 2/16/18 | 9:44 AM CET

Anne

@maciekimaciek
I was talking about this specific law but rather countries using their embassies to monitor their expat nationals.
The Polish law is useless outside of Poland anyway as Polish law can’t be applied to foreign jurisdictions. Similarly China can’t enforce its strict laws on Chinese nationals living in Britain or Russia on Russians living in the US, or Saudi Arabia on Saudis visiting France.

The Polish law is broader than just the Holocaust isn’t it? From what I’ve read its quite vague and covers anything that might be construed as defaming Polish history or rather the government-authorized version of that history.

Posted on 2/16/18 | 10:25 AM CET

SpoonyB

@Anne Indeed it is open to interpretation, in fact it does not even address the phrase “Polish death camps”, while potentially prohibiting journalistic inquiries into the subject, which is a blatant violation of free speech.

Posted on 2/16/18 | 11:36 AM CET

luckyone

I don’t think that Polish government is concerned about the comments that could harm the country. They are concerned about the comments that could say the truth about themselves, because this government is anti-Polish, anti-European, anti-democratic and freedom of speech is a big problem for them.